Lois Y. Chlarson, age 90, passed away on January 4, 2024, in Jackson, TN. She was born on May 21, 1933, in Davis, OK to the late Thomas Henry and Jennie Lee Perry Youngblood.
Raised in poverty, Lois highly valued education, and she graduated as Valedictorian of her High School Class in Marked Tree, Arkansas. Lois had also been active in the Girl Scouts of America and often reminisced about the many activities, crafts, and fun at Girl Scout Camp. After High School, she attended and graduated from Draughon’s Business College in Memphis, Tennessee. She would later attend night school in North Carolina to earn a computer keypunch operations certificate in 1970. That same year, she took the civil service exam for a computer keypunch position and scored in the top first percentile in the nation.
After Draughon’s, Lois worked in Memphis, first at Union Planter’s Bank and then at S.C. Toof & Company.
While working as a bookkeeper at S. C. Toof & Company in Memphis during the Korean War, Lois met a member of the US Navy at a USO dance. This was John Carol Chlarson, whom she would marry on November 23, 1956. Lois had three sons during their marriage: John Conrad, Mark Thomas, and Daniel Lee. John and Lois remained married until John’s passing in 2019. Lois was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
In her younger years, Lois had many hobbies and interests. She possessed a passion for travel and explored far-off destinations. She and her roommate drove to California to visit John at Naval Base Coronado, San Diego, California – in the days prior to the completion of Interstate 40. The Chlarson family even lived in Saudia Arabia for a time. Lois found joy in growing flowers and displaying their delicate beauty in her garden. Additionally, she possessed sewing skills that allowed her to create a wardrobe for herself and her children. Bedbound in later life, Lois found solace in observing birds as they frequented her bird feeder, bringing nature’s beauty right to her window. Lois also occupied much of her time reading, as she loved a good book. Personal visits, pictures, videos and online visits with her grandchildren and her great-grandson gave her much pleasure and entertainment. In particular, she found videos of her great-grandson’s adventures very amusing.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, John Conrad Chlarson (Jennifer) and Daniel Lee Chlarson (Julia); grandchildren, Jonathan Chlarson (Katie), David Chlarson (Hannah), Mark Chlarson, and Victoria Chlarson; great-grandchild, Joe Chlarson (Jonathan & Katie); and her beloved niece, Brenda Baker.
In addition to her parents, Lois was preceded in death by her husband, John; a son, Mark Thomas; and her sister, Ella Ward.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2024, in the chapel of Northside Church, 2571 N. Highland Ave., Jackson, TN, with Rev. Gerry Campbell officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until the service time at 1:00 p.m. The burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens in Jackson.
